The Indians are holding a rain dance to break the drought. Rip and a patrol are bringing the Indians some food and water. Boone has a new horse called the Flame; it's a racehorse left him by his uncle. Flame is a good horse but needs time to adjust to being an Army horse. Next stop a pueblo also in need of water. Morrel and his gun hand, Jock are there to collect money or the deeds to the town. Don Chavez used them as collateral for the money Morrel loaned the pueblo. Chavez used the money to hire a rain maker, Professor Pluvius, to bring rain and break the drought. The men of Fort Apache come up with enough money to loan Don Chavez so he can buy back the deeds from Morrel. But Morrel doesn't want the money. He has a better idea.
Morrel is also the owner of a racehorse named Comanche. Morrel recognizes Flame. He figures he can race his horse against Flame and get the money by forcing Don Chavez to use the soldier's money, and he will still have the deeds. The soldiers agree but it turns out there is a catch. Jock has ridden Flame and there is no faster horse, on a muddy track. To try and even out the race, the men decide to let Rusty ride as he is the lightest rider.
Perhaps the Professor will bring rain But the Professor admits to Rinnie that he's a fraud. The reason he was late to the village is that he was in jail for fraud. Rusty asks the Professor to try one more time just as the race is about to start. If he can make it rain then Flame will win.
The race starts and Jock is making it look good by keeping the race close on purpose. As the last lap is coming up, Jock lets Comanche pull away. It looks like rain clouds are moving in. Rinnie pulls the rain making machine switch to the on position, and the "machine" starts. It does start to rain, and the track gets "muddy" enough for Flame to pull ahead.
Morrel has to give back the deeds, the soldiers get to keep their money, and the Professor just feels good that he didn't let anyone down.
Morrel is also the owner of a racehorse named Comanche. Morrel recognizes Flame. He figures he can race his horse against Flame and get the money by forcing Don Chavez to use the soldier's money, and he will still have the deeds. The soldiers agree but it turns out there is a catch. Jock has ridden Flame and there is no faster horse, on a muddy track. To try and even out the race, the men decide to let Rusty ride as he is the lightest rider.
Perhaps the Professor will bring rain But the Professor admits to Rinnie that he's a fraud. The reason he was late to the village is that he was in jail for fraud. Rusty asks the Professor to try one more time just as the race is about to start. If he can make it rain then Flame will win.
The race starts and Jock is making it look good by keeping the race close on purpose. As the last lap is coming up, Jock lets Comanche pull away. It looks like rain clouds are moving in. Rinnie pulls the rain making machine switch to the on position, and the "machine" starts. It does start to rain, and the track gets "muddy" enough for Flame to pull ahead.
Morrel has to give back the deeds, the soldiers get to keep their money, and the Professor just feels good that he didn't let anyone down.